Purpose: To investigate the indications for use of the Japanese version of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), we evaluated the conditions of patients using and those not using the LCP. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 71 LCP patients and 60 non－LCP patients who died in our palliative care unit between March and December 2013. Results: There was no significant difference in patients’ background between the LCP and non－LCP groups. For patients in the non－LCP group, sudden changes in condition were significantly more frequent and deep continuous sedation was used significantly less than in the LCP group. In the LCP group, the average duration on the LCP was 4.0 days, and the beginning criterion was met by three－point or more of all the patients. The initial assessment was achieved except for one case. In the non－LCP group, reasons for not using the LCP were a sudden change in condition (35 patients), a rapid change in medical condition (14), and a risk of falling (4). Conclusions: The LCP met the beginning criterion and was started at suitable time in the LCP group. The LCP is not useful for all patients; it cannot be used for a patient with sudden or rapid changes in condition, or at a risk of falling.

A 70-year-old man with dextrocardia with situs inversus, presented to our hospital complaining of chest pain. ECG showed ST elevations in leads II, III and _aV_f , and ST depressions in leads V3 through V6. Blood tests showed creatinine kinase elevation. He underwent coronary angiography, which revealed obstruction of the anatomical right coronary artery and we diagnosed acute inferior myocardial infarction. However, the anatomical left coronary artery was not clearly identifiable because of its anomalous origin. He was transferred to our intensive care unit and intra-aortic balloon pumping was initiated. Coronary 3D-CT was then performed to obtain an anatomical overview of the coronary artery system. This enabled a second coronary angiography which showed obstruction of the left anterior descending artery and stenosis of the left main trunk in the first diagonal branch and the ramus intermedius branch. Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) was indicated. He underwent conventional quintuple CABG using the right internal thoracic artery and saphenous vein grafts. Preoperatively we made digital mirror images of the original coronary angiographic images to clarify his coronary artery anatomy. During surgery, the main surgeon continuously stood on the patient's left side except when opening and closing the chest, which enabled us to perform CABG. The postoperative course was uneventful. CABG in a patient with situs inversus totalis is very rare. We present this case with a review of the relevant literature.

We report a case of ulcerative colitis (UC) after mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery due to infective endocarditis (IE). A 59-year-old woman underwent MVR for mitral regurgitation due to IE. Six days after the surgery, melena was observed suddenly, and she received a blood transfusion. Ulcer and erosion were observed in the rectum 5 to 10 cm from the anal ring by endoscopy. We changed her antibiotic treatment and stopped warfarin potassium. Heparin sodium was started 2 days after melena. We diagnosed ulcerative colitis from the finding of the rectal lesion and biopsy. We gave mesalazine and betamethasone as treatment for UC. The patient's condition improved and her general condition stabilized. She was discharged 36 days after surgery.

We experienced a difficult case which had multiple impairments caused by antiphospholipid syndrome. This disease is a thrombophilic disorder in which venous or arterial thrombosis, or both, may occur in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (e.g. anticardiolipin antibody, lupus anticoagulant). This disease is well demonstrated as a cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. But the optimal treatment of these patients is unclear, and their prognosis is not good. Antiphospholipid syndrome causes recurrent multiple ischemic strokes, induces severe impairments and the disturbance of various higher brain functions, and shows resistance against rehabilitation. To address these difficulties we should, as rehabilitation experts, conduct chronic disease-management with the cooperation of the neurologists, and devise a rehabilitation approach that takes into consideration the nature and severity of this disease. In other words, a diversified approach, which is characteristic to rehabilitation, is no less important than medical remedies in treating antiphospholipid syndrome patients.

Purpose：We evaluated that the current state from which a palliative care unit receives emergency admission of cancer patients at home. Methods：We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 393 cancer patients who hospitalized in our unit between January 2013 and December 2014. The patients were shared with a group of two, schedule admission (schedule group) and emergency admission (emergency group), and it was compared with a result on discharge and with a hospitalization period. We investigated admission process, the date and time of admission, and reason for admission in emergency group. Results：The number of patients was 224 of schedule group and 169 of emergency group. The mortality rates were 81% in schedule group and 78% in emergency group (not significant). An emergency group for an average of 24.3 days was shorter for 9 days than schedule groups in a hospitalization period of dead leaving patients (p<0.05). In emergency group, admission process included 128 completed-interviews with the hospitalization, 11 incompleted-interviews before admission and 30 first visits, and 129 patients (76％) admitted within the weekday daytime. Many patients had a complaint of severe pain, appetite loss and oral absorption difficulty, and so much. Conclusions：An emergency group admitted the various processes and the much symptom. There were a lot of cases of early hospital death, but also admitted return at home, and our unit played the role of emergency admission.

A 61-year-old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of hemolytic anemia after ascending aortic replacement aortic dissection. Cine mode magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed stenosis at the proximal anastomostic site of a Teflon strip. We diagnosed hemolytic anemia induced by collision of red blood cells on the inverted felt strip. Conservative therapy with Sarpogrelate and β-blockers was effective to treat his hemolytic anemia. However, 7 years later he was re-admitted because of infective endocarditis at the aortic valve, and underwent aortic root replacement. Intraoperative findings showed a stiff and inverted Teflon felt strip causing stenosis of the proximal anastomosis. Hemolytic anemia should be considered a rare complication of using a Teflon felt strip to reinforce anastomosis for acute aortic dissection.

Surgical results in eight octogenarians who were operated upon for abdominal aortic aneurysms were compared to those of 42 patients under 80 years of age. Seven of eight octogenarians were operated on an emergency basis, and four of them were ruptured aneurysms. The size of the ruptured aneurysms was over 6cm in all cases of both groups. Postoperative complications occurred more frequently and postoperative mortality were significantly higher in octogenarians than in patients under 80. Early surgical intervention is recommended for elderly cases with large abdominal aortic aneurysms.

A 78-year-old man underwent successful removal of a contaminated pacemaker in a case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) septicemia. Septicemia was due to a subcutaneous abscess at the site of old cut electrodes. Following debridement of the infected pacemaker pocket, residual leads and the pacemaker system were removed under cardiopulmonary bypass. Bacterial examination of arterial blood and vegetation attached to the leads showed septicemia caused by MRSA. After the operation, antibiotic therapy with vancomycin, arbekacin and minocycline was performed for several weeks. His postoperative course was uneventful without the recurrence of infection. In cases of pacemaker contamination, with septicemia, total removal of the pacemaker system and adequate antibiotic therapy are necessary.

The preoperative pulmonary arterial pressure of 38 patients aged over 50 undergoing surgical closure of a secundum atrial septal defect was studied. They were divided into three groups according to systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP): Group A (PAP<30mmHg, n=14), Group B (30≤PAP<50mmHg, n=16), and Group C (PAP≥50mmHg, n=8). The mean age of group C patients was older than that of group A patients. With higher PAP, the Pp/Ps, Rp/Rs and cardiothoracic ratios increased, atrial fibrillation and heart failure (NYHA≥2) were more frequent, and PaO₂ levels declined. There were no differences in left to right shunt ratio and Qp/Qs among the three groups. The PAP and Rp/Rs were under 70mmHg and 0.30, respectively in all patients. High pulmonary blood flow seems to be the cause of pulmonary hypertension in most elderly patients because PAP and Rp/Rs decreased after surgery in all groups. Findings of cardiomegaly and heart failure also improved after surgery. Surgical intervention is recommended even in elderly patients with a ASD.